Friday's health and safety news from the world of football:
- KVUE-TV in Austin, Texas, reported that three athletic directors in the state immediately got rid of their football teams' helmets after they were discovered to be using the lowest-rated headgear in the Virginia Tech helmet ratings system.
- USA Today talked to NFL senior vice president of football operations Troy Vincent, who reiterated he played with a half-dozen openly gay players during his time as a player.
- The Boston Globe reported that the NFL has cleared the New England Patriots of accusations they mishandled injury reports.
- Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar told The Associated Press Thursday he lost his job as a color commentator because of slurred speech brought on by concussions.
- The New York Times looked at the push to adopt workers' compensation for players who are injured during NCAA football play.
- The Charlottesville, Va., Daily Progress looked at the impact of Virginia Tech's latest helmet ratings.
- WLOX-TV in Biloxi, Miss., reported on the helmet research being done at the University of Southern Mississippi.
- WTNH-TV in New Haven, Conn., reported on a new bill that will expanded the state's concussion law by requiring coaches to take concussion training.
- WXIX-TV in Cincinnati examined the new Indiana law that will require coaches to undergo concussion awareness training.
- The Burlington (N.C.) News Times looked at Elon University, where one player is using the Guardian Cap at practices.
-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor
